Forsyth County Sheriff, William T. Schatzman, recently attended the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association’s 91st Annual Training Conference held in New Hanover County, North Carolina with other sheriffs and law enforcement professionals from across the State.

The Annual Training Conference allows North Carolina's sheriffs to discuss their experiences and learn about important law enforcement developments. North Carolina sheriffs have a complex role as constitutional officers leading law enforcement within their respective counties. Duties often require that sheriffs be available to personnel and to the public continuously. Sheriff Schatzman plans to use the knowledge gained at the conference to further serve and protect Forsyth County citizens.

Sheriffs in every county of North Carolina are facing tremendous challenges in carrying out responsibilities for law enforcement and the safety of citizens; maintenance and operation of local jails; recruiting, training and maintaining talented personnel; working with domestic situations, child abuse cases, serving civil papers, tracking sex offenders in the state, issuing weapons permits, providing court security, and in many other areas.

At the NCSA Annual Training Conference, sheriffs discussed issues of interest to the Office of Sheriff, including updates on new changes to the law and procedures, as well as an update on the newly enacted State Budget by the 2013 General Assembly.

Jamie Markham of the UNC School of Government spoke about changes to the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) and Rick Rosenthal, a nationally known media relations consultant, spoke on how sheriffs and the media can work together.

Sheriff Ed McMahon of New Hanover County and his staff were hosts for the Sheriffs’ Association’s Annual Training Conference and will also host the 2014 Annual Training Conference.

The association headquarters is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Edmond W. Caldwell, Jr. serves as Executive Vice President and General Counsel.